In Russia, Activists Fear Cover-Up In ‘Prison-Riot’ Trial - Radio Free Europe

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In Russia, Activists Fear Cover-Up In ‘Prison-Riot’ Trial

Russian officials describe the November 2012 disturbances at prison camp No. 6 in the Urals town of Kopeisk as a violent uprising.

Prisoners and their advocates say it was a desperate and peaceful protest against alleged torture and abuse.

Now, although 17 defendants have been on trial in Kopeisk for more than 18 months, activists say there is little expectation that the truth -- or justice -- will emerge.

“We believe that the accusations and the criminal prosecution of the prisoners is not justified because they were protesting to defend their rights, to protect themselves from torture and extortion, and they were doing it peacefully,” Aleksei Laptev, a Russian member of the European Prison Litigation Network who is monitoring the Kopeisk trial, told RFE/RL’s Russian Service.

“These facts have been established and have not, in principle, been contested. There are also two verdicts by the courts against the head of the colony, Denis Mekhanov,” he said. “Moreover, these facts have been established in a report by the presidential advisory Council on Human Rights and Civil Society.”

Read More At: http://www.rferl.org/a/in-russia-activists-fear-cover-up-in-prison-riot-trial/28152781.html